Thomas Hitzlsperger handed Everton lifeline

Everton have handed a trial to former Aston Villa and West Ham midfielder
Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Flying into Goodison: Thomas Hitzlsperger (Picture: Getty Images)

The 30-year-old former Germany international is currently a free agent after leaving Bundesliga club Wolfsburg at the end of last season, where injury restricted him to just six appearances.

Hitzlsperger has since returned to England in a bid to find new employment, having enjoyed two successful spells in the Premier League with Aston Villa initially, and then West Ham.

But now Everton have given him a chance to prove himself once again after Toffees boss David Moyes confirmed midfielder Darron Gibson is facing an extended spell on the sidelines.

Hitzlsperger will spend the next two weeks in training at Finch Farm in a bid to try and win a contract, but according to assistant manager Steve Round, fitness is the only thing that could prevent a possible deal.

‘I have been very pleased with him. Thomas is a long way off playing but we have given him the opportunity to come in and it is up to him now. We will assess him over the next couple of weeks,’ Round told the Daily Mail.

‘He seems a really good lad and I don’t think I have seen him without a smile on his face.’

‘What will determine whether he gets a contract is his fitness. He has had a bad injury and we would want to see that he could sustain training.’

‘If he could do that, he would add quality and strength to our squad. He has got a history of playing at the highest level.’

The move for Hitzlsperger comes after Everton decided against offering a deal to former Manchester City midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who was deemed too big a risk following a spate of injury problems.